Rheinbund
Established Nation
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Crown of the Rheinian King; only used at the coronation
Ludwig von Heidemar-Loorburg
The Rheinbund has a rich history, with traditions dating back to the middle ages. Even its form of government dates back from the middle ages. It is a monarchy, but not the normal kind of monarchy. The King is elected, and can even be a non-nobleman. Actually, that is currently the case. His Majesty King Johannes Bergmann is not of noble ancestry. He was Bürgerschaftslegat of Bremerland when he was elected 20 years ago.
My name is Ludwig von Heidemar-Loorburg. I am the third son of the Sovereign Prince of Lotharingen, and with that a Prince of Lotharingen. This may sound a bit complex, because my father’s title, Fürst in German, does not have a proper equivalent word in Engellish or Frankish. Both languages use the word “Prince” to indicate a person who is head of state of a principality, while we use the word “Fürst”. In order to distinguish a head of state of a principality from a son of a King or Emperor, we use the term “Sovereign Prince” or “Prince Souverain” to refer to a head of state of a principality. So basically, I am a Prince but not a Sovereign Prince, or a Prinz but not a Fürst.
Because of my ancestry, I am eligible to be elected King of the Rheinbund, but I don’t think that that will happen. The Archbishop of Heilbronn is one of the electors, and he will never agree with a gay King. Apart from that, a very orthodox and extremely conservative branch of Calvinism dominates the citizenry of Bramsfeld; a gay King would be unacceptable to the Bramsfelders as well.
Rheinbund is a very diverse country, and constitutionally quite a decentralised country. Many matters are handled at the level of the principalities, prince-bishopric and citizenries. Matters for which it is more efficient to be handled at federal level, are handled at federal level, but many other issues are handled at local level. Of course defence, foreign politics, economic politics, energy politics, health care organisation and all kinds of standards (a.o. Rheinische Industrienorm (RIN), Rheinisches Reinheitsgebot (RRG), Rheinische Abgasnorm (RAN, norms for exhaust gases of cars, trucks, mopeds etc.)) are federal matters; and all new medical and veterinarian therapies are assessed for marketing approval at federal level. Education is also a federal matter. But many other things are handled by the principalities, prince-bishopric and citizenries.
Especially ethical matters are so-called Ländersache. Abortion and homosexual intercourse are legal in most Länder, but not in Bramsfeld and Heilbronn. Those two Länder also forbid same-sex marriages, although there is an agreement to recognise marriages not closed in your own land (also in the case of same-sex marriages).
Next year will be a special year for the Rheinbund. On 28 June, it will have existed 1100 years. Massive parties have been planned to celebrate the event. 28 June is already a day of celebration, but next year it will be extra special. Throughout the year, many indoor and outdoor expositions on the history of the Rheinbund will be organised. 28 and 29 June will be public holidays in the Rheinbund, and 28 June will be a day of celebrations.
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